Merely months after ANC Youth League Limpopo chairperson and Public Works MEC, Tony Rachoene has occupied office, he has wielded his axe on a senior member of one of the entities he is responsible for.
Rachoene suspended Road Agency Limpopo CEO Gabriel Maluleke last week, weeks after he dissolved the agency’s board, which is led by its chairman, Matome Ralebipi.
Rachoene assumed office days after the election of Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba. Ramathuba is seen as Rachoene’s ally. Additionally, Rachoene is seen as "cleaning house" by removing officials appointed by former MEC Nkakareng Rakgoele in order to install his own appointees.
The suspension letter addressed to Maluleke indicates that his suspension is effective from 30 August, pending an investigation.
It reads in part: “RAL has received information which might amount to misconduct on your part. In light of the seriousness of the allegations your continued presence in the workplace might interfere with the investigation and witnesses and could potentially compromise RAL.”
It further read that Maluleke was suspended with full pay and was instructed to hand over his work laptop, cell phone and office keys.
Attempts to reach Maluleke for comment were unsuccessful.
In a statement last week, RAL announced that the agency is now under the management of an Accounting Authority appointed by Rachoene on August 12, 2024.
“This measure has been implemented to maintain oversight and address the challenges facing the Agency.
The statement announced that Moses Tseli would serve as the accounting authority while the process of appointing a new board of directors was under way.
“Following preliminary assessments of the agency's challenges, the CEO, Mr Gabriel Maluleke, has been placed on precautionary suspension effective August 30, 2024. This suspension is to ensure that further investigations are conducted smoothly. Mr Tseli appointed Mr Makhitha Chesane, who is attached to the stakeholder management function of the agency, as the acting CEO.
“I wish to apologise to all the service providers whose payments were delayed while the agency was attending to matters of governance. The operational systems will be back on track and the agency’s obligation towards its service providers and the public will be honoured in the few days to come,” said Tseli while addressing the RAL staff last week.
Rachoene while briefing the media regarding the resignation of three members of the board, said he was not sure why they had resigned.
“I have been served with resignations by three board members of Road Agency Limpopo. Up to this stage, leaving the current board not to form a quorum of the total number of eight board members,” said Rachoene.
“It is also important for me to also indicate that there was still a vacant position of a board member to represent the Transport Department,” Rachoene added.
“The department will later make an announcement on the names of the interim board members,” he said.
The board was eventually dissolved after it allegedly extended its term of office without following procedures.
The Star
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